Flour-producer.



G. WA 6L C. C. SUMMEHT-ON.

FLOUH PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED MAII. 2s, I9I7.

1,244,561. Patemed OCI. 30, 1917.

as, W

Patented Oct. 30, 19W.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WMe/oo Clt narran srarns rafrnnfr ernten.

enonsn w. snilnvinn'ron AND starren c. sUr/LMERTON, or war-msn, laminare.'r y

FLOUR-PRGDUCER.

specimen@ of Letters raient. Patented 0G15, 30,1917,

Application led March 26, 1917. Sera1-No. 157,340.

To all whom t may cof/cem 1 Be it known thatk we, GEORGE W'. SUMMER'-, TON, a subject of the King of Finglanchbut who have 'declared `my intention of becoming a citizen ofthe United States, and CLAY-V 'rox C. SUMMnn'roN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Wabash, in the county of xWabash and State, of indiana, have invented a new and useful Flour-Producer, of which the following isa specification. f f

lt is the objectof our invention to provide a machine for producing flour from crushed middlings or,` other intermediate stock comingy directly from the rolls without passing through a bolter or Hour dresser, and at the same time to make a better grade of flour than is obtained from rolls, and also to shorten the flourmalring process.

The accompanying ldrawings illustrate our invention. Figure lqis` ,a yvertical longitudinal section through ar ilourfproducer embodying our invention; Fig. V2is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section Aon the lineBy-B of Fig. l; Fig. 4c is a perspective view of one rotator and end plate ofthe rotatable element; and Fig. 5 is a rfragmentary longitudinal section through the rotatable element. f

A horizontally arranged cylindrical casf ing 8, conveniently ofsheet metal, ,withcast end rings 9 yand 10 at the intakeand dis charge ends respectively, `is `suitably supported on legs 11,y conveniently integral with the end rings, and has removable end plates 12 fastened by bolts 13 to internally projecting Vlugs on the ,end rings. Such end plates are provided with bearings 14 for the shaft 15 of the rotatable element, which is provided with any suitable driving means, such as a pulley 16. This rotatable element may be removed as anentirety from-the casing 10, by being withdrawn endwise, one of the end plates l2 rst being removedglln.

order to prevent longitudinal'movement of this rotatable member, it fmay be provided with collars 17 forbearing against the end plates 12, such collars being adjustably fastened on the shaft 15, as-by set screvvsl.k

The rotatable element on thefshaft 15 conf sists of a number `of identical rotatorsj 20,

of which one is'shown in Fig. 4. Eachrotatory consistsof 'anv vannulus 21 connected by 4a web 22 to a supporting hub 23 adjustably secured on the shaft by a set screw 24, such hub 23 `conveniently being on theop posite side of the web 22 from the annulus 21 so that it projects into the space within the annulus 4of the adjacent rotator, thus facilitating assembling. Projecting downwardlyfrom the annulus21 are a number of wings 25, which are rearwardly curvedsomewhat like sections of a spiral, or are convex on theiradvanced faces, viewed axially.l As shown, there are four of these wings on each rotator.v The Vwings 25 at their `free ends are convex axially, as is clear from Figs. k1 i and :4, and on their advancing faces near their freeends are provided with a plurality of axially extending grooves 26. The rotators may be assembled on the shaft 15so that the wings 25 of adjacent rotators either are or arefnot in axial alinement; in the latter case corresponding wings of the different rotators form a helix the pitch of which determines the rate of feeding the stock through the machine, which pitch is adjustable by Vfastening the different rotators in vdiderent circumferential positions on the shaft l5. in order to hold the stock in each rotator for a sufficient time, and prevent it from passing through the machine too rapidly, plates 27 are located between the -wings 25 of adjacent rotators, which plates project outward from the annulil 21 against the axial ends of the wings 25, and are theV 'full height of the wings 25 on the forward sides of the latter but are of gradually decreasingheight as they approach the next wing in advance, as is clear from Fig. 2. Conveniently these plates 27 are formed as webs integral with the annuli'21, asis clear from Figs. 1 and il. VThe rotator at the discharge end of the machine (to the right in Fig. l) has a somewhat similar plate or web 28 (seeFigs. 1 and 3) the outer edge of which is circular with the axis of rotation as a center, and which projects nearly or quite to thel outer ends of the wings 25, to retard therpassage ofthe stock from this last rotator to the discharge opening somewhat more greatly than it is retarded, elsewhere. At the entrance end of the rotator at ythe intake end yof the machine there is a plate 29 carried by its own hub 30with its set screw 3l, which plate 29 is circular and projects outward slightly beyond the surface of they adjacent annulus 21. This is shown in Figs. l, 4, and `5. t

Fixed within the casing 10 and fastened together and to the end rings in any suitable manner, as by dowel pins 35, area series of rings -37, whicht closely within the casing Cil ' chine is reduced to line granules.

-thestlo'ch thus discharged from the machine 10 and the inner surfaces of which areY spaced slightly from the outer ends of the wings 25. Conveniently, but not essentially, there are tivo rings 37 for each rotator, is clear from Fig. l, Which two rings inate to form an inner surface 88 which is concave in axial cross section, so as to provide a substantially uniform spacing from the convex outer ends of-the Wings This irme-r surface l338 is ,routine-ned, preferably by being 4provided Vith a multiplicity of small bosses L39 arranged in staggered re'- l-a'tion in longitudinal rotvs, against which bosses the stock is thrown in the operation of the inacl'iine. rlie end plates 9 and 10 at the intake and discharge ends (the left and right respectively inFi'g. l) are provi'clecl-yvith an intake opening` i@ and a rdischarge opening' il, respectively, which openings lead tangentially into the space Within the casing l0, as is clear from Figs. 2 and 3, `so that the stocl is received into such 'casing discharged therefrom tangentially and in the direction of vrotation of the rotators. The intalieopening' et() and the discharp'e opening al are beyond the first and last rotators, or beyond the. plates 9,9 and Q8, respectively, as indicated in Fig. l tlioi`rg'hthis is not necessary.

lnoperation, the stock to be made into flour is ordinarily first ground or crushed on smooth rolls, and4 then `dischargefd di` rectly into the intake opening' l0 of our flour producer.4 lt is immediately taken up by the'wingrs 25 of the rstrotator, and agi; tated thereby between the Wings 25 and the surface 3 8, missing- Lgradually from one rotator to` the next around the edges Vot vthe 'plates 27 until it reaches the 'discharge end of the machine, where it is discliarged through the discharge opening el, The stock remains in Aeach rotator for some time, before passing' to the next, because `of the plates 27, and in passing' through the nialllh'en isA bolted, it produces a larger percentage of fioul' thancan be obtained from the'roller process or any other process lrnotvn to us,

and the flour thus Vobtained is of better quaiity, and `Whiter. The granules of thisflonr are comparatively sharp grained,y and the gluten inthe Wheat is not affectedlas in the Vcase of other flourlprojducing processes. Probablythis is because the action ink our flonr producer is a breaking Yup of the 'stock bythe action for the most Vpart of theparticl'es on one another, the Wings 25 and the roughened surfaces 3S merely. assisting in the agitation of the stock but producing practically noY 'grinding' action themselves Y on account 4of the space between the 'ends `of the Wines Q5 Yand the surfaces 38. Furthermore, the passage of the stoel; through the machine is accompanied by a current of air,

Which keeps the stocl cool and thereby avoids the deteriorating effects of heat. The st'o'clr after passing through our machine goes directly to the bolters Without any furi ther treatment.

The length of the machine and the num-` ber of rotators therein may be varied as desired. The sto-cli kmay be fed to the inachine in some other state than that of mid- Y dlings, if desired, though ive find they produce most 'desirable results. ln some cases, thev stock may be passed tliroiigh the maL chine more than once, especially if the ina- 'chine is short, though ordinarily one passage is sortaient. `Y

By our machine, the number of operations required to produce ii'ou-r isgreatly reduced, thereby effecting fa great sayin-g of power.

1We claim as our invention:

l. A flour producer, coniprisinfg a single substantially horizontal cylinder haring ai:- iallyZ separated 'inlet and outlet open' gs, and a rotating element mounted for rotation therein and 'comprising -a plurality of conti-@nous rotators leach 'of which has an a'nnululs from which a plurality of rearwardly ci'irved `Wings 'oblique to the radii and4 in general Yparallel to the rotator axis project 'ontward into 'proXinn'ty to the inner surface of Ysaid cy'flinder,Y the inner surface of said cylinder hein-g provi-*ded opposite the Wings of the rotator with a plurality of bosses arranged in staggered relation in longitiidinfal rotys.

Q, i flour producer, comprising a single si'ibstaiiti-'ally horizoiital cylinder having airially separated inlet and oi'itlet openings, and a 'rotating element mounted for rotation therein and compri-emga plurality of con4V tigfuou-s rotators each 'of 1which has an annulus from which a plurality of Wings oblique vto the radii and in general parallel to the rotator axis project 'rearwardly out` Ward into proximity to the inner surface of said cylinder, the inner surface of said rcylinderbeing i'rovided opposite the Wings of the rotator With a plurality of bosses arranged in staggered relation in longitudinal rows.

A flour producer, .comprising a sin-gie substantially horizontal cylinder haying axially separated inlet and outlet openings, anda rotating element mounted for rotation therein and comprising a plurality of contiguous iotato'rs each of Which has an a'nnulus from which a plurality of rearwardly curved wings oblique to the radii and in general parallel to the rotator airis project oiitWard into proximity to the inner surface of said cylinder, said rotating eleL nient having `'outwardly projecting plates betvveen adjacent.rotators for retaining the Stock in the pockets foi-ined between 'the Wings of the rotators.

il. ik flour producer, 4comprising` a single pri substantially horizontal cylinder,l having axially separated inlet and'outlet openings, and a rotating element 'mounted for rotation therein and comprising a plurality of contiguous rotators each of which has an annulus from which a plurality of wings obliquepto the radii and in general parallel to the rotator axis project rearwardly outward into proximity to the inner surface of said cylinder, said rotating element having outwardly projecting vplates between adjacent rotators for retaining the stock in the pockets formed between the wings of the rotators. Y

- 5. A flour producer, comprising a single substantially horizontal cylinder having axially separatedr inlet and outlet openings and a rotating element mounted for rotation therein and comprising a plurality of contiguo-us rotators each of which has an annulus from which a plurality of rearwardly curved wings oblique to `the radii and in general parallel to the rotator axis project outward into proximity to theinner surface of said cylinder, the outer ends of said wings being convex axially of the cylinder, and the cylinder being provided with a plurality of axially conc ye portions opposite the respective rotator-s.

6. A flour producer, comprising a single substantially horizontal cylinder having axially separated inlet and outlet openings,V

and a rotating element mounted for rotation therein and comprising a plurality of contiguous rotators each of which has an annulus from which a plurality of wings oblique to the radii and in general parallel to the rotator axis project rearwardly outward into proximity to the inner surface of said cylinder, the outer ends of said wings being convex axially of the cylinder, and the cylinder being provided with a plurality ofr axially concave portions opposite the respective rotators.

7. A iiour producer, comprising a substan tially horizontal cylinder, and a rotating element mounted for rotation therein and comprising a shaft and a plurality of rotatcrs-mounted on such shaft, each of said rotators having a hub and an annulus spaced from but connected to the hub and a plurality of wings oblique to the radii and in general parallel to the rotatory axis and extending outwardly and rearwardly from the annulus into proximity to the inner surface of said cylinder, the hubs of each rotator being in different planes from the annuli and wings thereof so that the hub of one rotator projects within the annulus of another.

8. A flour producer, comprising a single substantially horizontal cylinder having axially separated inlet and outlet openings, and a rotating element mounted for rotation therein and comprising a shaft and ay plurality ofcontiguous rotators mounted on such shaft, each of said rotators having a hub `and an annulus spaced from but connected to the hub and a plurality of wings oblique to the radii andy in general parallel to the rotator axis and extending outwardly and rearwardly from theannulus into prox-y imity to the inner surface of said cylinder.'

9. A flour producer, comprising a single substantially horizontal cylinder having axially separated inlet and outlet openings, and a rotating element mounted for rotation therein and comprising a shaft and a' plurality of contiguous rotators mounted on such shaft, each of said rotators having a hub and an annulus spaced frombutccon? nected tothe hub and a plurality of rear-- wardly curved wings oblique tof the radii and in general parallel to the rotator axis and extending outwardly from the annulus into proximity to the inner surface ofv said cylinder.

10. A our producer, comprising a single substantially horizontal cylinder having`v axiallyseparated inlet and outlet openings,

and a rotating element mountedk forlrota-y tion therein and comprisinga shaft and a A"plurality of contiguous rotators" mounted VYon such shaft, each of said rotators having f jecting rearwardly curved wings oblique to the radii and in general parallel to the rota tor axis, thewings of one section being circumferentially spaced from those of the next, and a plurality of rings removably secured within said casing and providing an inner surface having a series of axially concave portions respectively opposite the wings of the diiferent sections of the rotatable member. v

12. A flour producer, comprising an outer casing, a rotatable member comprising a plurality of contiguous sections each of which has a plurality of outwardly and rearwardly projecting wings oblique to the radii and in general parallel to the rotator axis, the wings of one section being circumferentially spaced from those ofthe next, and a plurality of rings removably secured within said casing and providing an inner surface having a series of axially concave portions respectively opposite the wings of the different sections of the rotatable ineinber, said axially concave portions being rougliened.

13. A flour producer, comprising, an outer casing, a rotatable member comprising a plurality of contiguous sections each of which has a plurality of outwardly and rearwardly projectingv 'wings oblique to the radii and in general parallel to the rotator axis, the Wings of one section being circumerentially spaced troni those of tlie next, and a plurality of rings removably secured Within said casing and providing an inner surface having a series of axially concare portions respectively opposite tbe Wings of the differenty sections of the rotatable ineinber7 the outer ends of seid Wings being` axially convex to correspond with the axially concave portions of the inner surface of said series ot rings. v

14. A flourk producer7 comprising an outer casing, a rotatable nieniber comprising,` a plurality of contiguous sections each oli which llas a plurality of outwardly and rearwardly'projecting Wings oblique to tlie radii and in general parallel to the rotator axis, the Wings oit' onersection being circu1nferentially spaced roni those of' the nent, anda pluralityof rings removably secured Within said casing in matingpairs,r each pair bein@ opposite the Wings of one section or' said rotatable element and providing an inner surface which is axially concave.

l5. A Hour producer, comprising an outer casing, `a rotatable nieniber comprising a plurality of contiguous sections each ot which has plurality or outwardly and rearwardly projecting` Wings oblique to the radii and in general parallel to tbe rotator axis7 tlie Wings of one sect-ion being circuni-V l ferentially spaced troni those of tliernoxtiy and ak plurality of rings r nioyablysecured Within said casing and providing an inner surface haring a series of' axially concave portions respectively opposite tlie Wings of 4 the dilerent sections ot the rotatable ineinber.

ln *itness whereof, We liayefliereunto set our hands at ll/Tabasli, Indiana', tliistwentysecond day of March, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and seventeen.

GEORGE iV. SUMMERTON. CLAYTGN C. SUMMER-TGN.

Copies of this. patent :may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the "Gommissoner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. l 

